PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays will look to rebound from Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles when the Philadelphia Phillies make the trek down from Clearwater to Charlotte Sports Park. Blake Snell will make his second spring start , with fist pitch scheduled for 1:05.
CIUFFO OK AFTER SCARY SITUATION THURSDAY -- Catcher Nick Ciuffo required seven staples to close a laceration he suffered when hit on the back swing by Baltimore's D.J. Stewart Thursday, but did not suffer a concussion.
"My girlfriend was actually saying this is just more confirmation that I'm hard-headed," he joked.
Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that they'll give Ciuffo a few days to heal, but if all goes according to plan, he could DH in a simulated game scheduled for Tuesday morning.
GOMEZ EXPECTED TO ARRIVE TODAY -- The missing piece of the Rays outfield could be in Port Charlotte as early as this afternoon.
"He was FaceTiming Willy Adames early this morning," Cash said. "He was pumped."
Cash said Carlos Gomez, who reportedly agreed to a one-year deal last week with Tampa Bay has already flown to the United States from the Dominican Republic, and could arrive at Charlotte Sports Park "around twelve o'clock, one o'clock."
According to Cash, Gomez has been taking live batting practice in the Dominican, but the team is looking to "take it slow," and will likely wait until after Monday's off day to get him into a Grapefruit League game.